Complaints had filtered through to Linux Australia president John Ferlito, according to Shaun Nykvist, Linux.conf.au 2011 director.

The terms and conditions of registering at Linux.conf.au has a Discrimination section which says that the conference will not tolerate certain behaviours by attendees, with complaints to be made to organisers. Actions laid out by the terms and conditions included telling the offenders to apologise and modify behaviour.

Organisers provided a verbal apology during the closing statement. Pesce wrote a brief letter of apology to those offended.

"I would like to offer my heartfelt apology to any individuals offended by any of the images I employed in my keynote address for Linux.conf.au," Pesce said.

Pesce declined to comment further on the issue.

When asked if organisers had seen the presentation beforehand, Nykvist said that Linux.conf.au didn't censor presentations. "We expect them to do the right thing given they know about the policy," he said.